Virginia Baseball: Hoos win ninth of the season; defeat Niagara 5-3

It was a chilly day in Charlotesville, so it was no surprise to see the team’s streak of scoring double digit runs come to an end at eight. But the Hoos did hit enough (they still had ten hits) to get the W, defeating Niagara 5-3. Virginia got a quality start from Daniel Lynch who gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits over six innings. He also walked four and struck out six to run his record on the year to 3-0.

The Purple Eagles struck first thanks to an RBI double by Wyatt Olson. He’d score a batter later on Owen Dziados’ single through the right side giving Niagara a 2-0 through the first half inning. Virginia would get them back in the bottom half after Adam Haseley drew a two-out walk and advanced to third on a single by Pavin Smith. Robbie Coman would deliver the run on a single the left field. Cam Simmons would knot the game at two when his single to center field plated Smith.

The teams would trade runs in the second when Tanner Kirwer reached on a throwing error by Virginia third baseman Justin Novak. After stealing second, Kirwer scored on a single by Greg Cullen giving the Purple Eagles a 3-2 lead. Novak would redeem himself in the bottom half, leading off the inning with a single to right center field. After advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt, he’d score on a single by Jake McCarthy tying the game at three.

The game was knotted at three until the bottom of the fifth when the Hoos would score the go-ahead runs. Smith got a single and Coman reached on a walk. The pair would advance on a ground out to third by Simmons and score on a two RBI single to left field by Charlie Cody.

Alec Bettinger came on in relief of Lynch and pitched two scoreless innings, only giving up one hit and recording three strike outs. Tommy Doyle worked a perfect ninth to pick up his second save of the year.

Smith and Simmons each had two hits for the Hoos, while Cody led the way with two RBI.

Virginia is back in action for a double header Saturday. In the first game, they’ll take on La Salle at Noon. Then they’ll face off with Niagara once again in a game that will start approximately 50 minutes after the conclusion of the first.